Jessica Matten is a Canadian actress and film producer.
Jessica Matten | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 2, 1985 |
| Alma mater | University of Alberta (BS Human Ecology) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
Early life and education
editMatten was born in Edmonton, Alberta.[1] She is of Red River Métis and Cree heritage through her mother[1][2] and British-Chinese through her father.[3]
From the age of six, she assisted with her mother's First Nations modeling agency around Canada. She also worked for her father in marketing for several years before becoming an actor.[4]
Matten graduated from the University of Alberta with a science degree in human ecology.[1]
Career
editMatten appeared in five international/Native People’s television series in eight years including Discovery Canada and Netflix series Frontier starring Jason Momoa and CW Network and CBC drama series Burden of Truth. In 2020, Matten began starring in Tribal on the APTN Network. She plays the newly appointed chief of an indigenous police force in Alberta, Canada. She was also an associate producer on the series.[5]
She also previously starred in the short film A Red Girl’s Reasoning which received an award at the Imagine NATIVE Film Festival. In 2020, Matten appeared in the horror movie The Empty Man for Disney/20th Century Fox studios. [6]
In 2022, Matten began co-starring in the TV crime drama series Dark Winds. She plays Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito, the only female police officer on the Navajo reservation.[7][8]
Other activities
editMatten is a co-founder of The Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy (“CCIFA”), an educational environment for creative work, where emerging and aspiring First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists can gain expertise and experience in film.[6][9] She is also the President of 7 Forward Entertainment, an Indigenous-owned production company based on the West Coast of Canada.[10]
Personal life
editMatten is a direct descendant of Cuthbert Grant, the first rebel Métis leader, known for the Battle of Seven Oaks in Canada.[6]
Partial filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | A Red Girl's Reasoning | Delia | Short film |
| 2014–2015 | Blackstone | Gina | 12 episodes |
| 2016–2018 | Frontier | Sokanon | 18 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Burden of Truth | Gerrilyn Spence | 14 episodes |
| 2020 | The Empty Man | Fiona | |
| 2020–2021 | Tribal | Sam Woodburn | 18 episodes |
| 2022–present | Dark Winds | Bernadette Manuelito | Main role |
| 2024 | Rez Ball | Heather Hobbs | |
| 2026 | Aang: The Last Airbender | Katara[11] |
References
edit- ^ a b c Griwkowsky, Fish (2016-11-04). "Edmonton-born actress brings edge to fur-trade TV drama Frontier". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ Puckett-Pope, Lauren (27 June 2022). "Jessica Matten of 'Dark Winds' is Ready to Lead the First Indigenous Superhero Movie". ELLE. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ Wilkinson, Wendy (15 March 2023). "Jessica Matten". COWGIRL Magazine. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ Larue, Frank (2011-03-16). "Jessica Yee: Positive Beauty". First Nations Drum Newspaper. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ^ Wilkinson, Wendy (March 15, 2023). "Jessica Matten - The Dark Winds Series Actress is Leading the Generation Next Indigenous Movement". Cowgirlmagazine. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c Cordero, Rosy (September 20, 2022). "'Dark Winds' Star Jessica Matten Signs With M88". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Gomez, Adrian (28 July 2023). "Breaking boundaries: Jessica Matten returns as Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito in 'Dark Winds'". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Miller, Stuart (26 July 2023). "'Dark Winds' actress Jessica Matten is 'all about representation'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ Trembath, Terri (26 August 2022). "'Dark Winds' actor helps First Nations students get into film industry through college course". CBC News. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Moore, Booth (25 August 2022). "'Dark Winds' Jessica Matten: "My Entire Life's Purpose Is to Empower Women'". wwd.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Aang: The Last Airbender Movie Has Found Its Cast, Including Dave Bautista". Gizmodo. 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
